Devices for the holding and driving of screws or like fasteners



Dec. 24, 1963 A. D. ACRES 3,115,168-

DEVICES FOR THE HOLDING AND DRIVING OF SCREWS OR LIKE FASTENERS Filed Aug. 14, 1961 Inventor ALEXANDER D. ACRES ATTORNEY United States Patent 3,115,168 DEVICES FOR THE HOLDING AND DRIVING 0F SCREWS 0R LIKE FASTENERS Alexander D. Acres, 728 Hall St., Sarnia, Ontario, Canada Filed Aug. 14, 1961, Ser. No. 131,433 4 Claims. (Cl. 14550) This invention relates to improvements in devices for the holding and driving of screws or like fasteners.

The object of this invention is to provide a simple, easily manipulatable device for attachment to a screwdriver which can be used to hold a screw or other fastener for positioning and initial insertion in a selected opening, the device in no way affecting the normal use as a screwdriver so that the holding, positioning, insertion and the driving of a selected fastener can be accomplished in a continuous sequence of steps.

It is also an important object to provide a device in the form of a displaceable body which can be moved into the region of the screwdriver blade for co-operation therewithwhen it is necessary to hold a fastener for positioning and insertion and to remove it from that region when it is. no longer required.

It is also an important object to provide a device of simple. construction so that manufacture will be economical.

The principal feature of this invention resides in providing a tubular element. with a pair of rigid diametrically opposed and axially extending projections at one end, thetubular element being mounted in sleeved relation onto the shank of a screwdriver and. having the aforementioned open end surrounding the blade portion, the projections. having a thickness corresponding to the thickness of the blade portion and an extent of the order of the depth of the slot or kerf in the head of a fastener so that with the projections and blade portion aligned, they will fit within the slotted head of a. suitable fastener, with the afore mentioned end of the tubular element seated against the. head of the fastener, the tubular element being provided with resilient yieldable means secured at one end to the shank of the screwdriver and being operably connected to the tubular element in a manner to normally urge it to a position wherein the projections are angularly offset from the blade element, such that when the blade and projections are registered within the slotted head of the fastener, there is imparted to the tubular element and hence, the projections, a torque or twisting movement resulting. a twisting of the blade element relative to the fastener and hence, a jamming of the blade element in the slotted opening whereby the fastener is held in position for positioning and insertion in a suitable opening, the blade of the screwdriver, upon the insertion being accomplished, being unobstructed for driving the fastener completely into the hole or opening.

Still another feature resides in providing means for' anchoring the. resilient yieldable means, which may be. a spring or tubular resilient rubber length or the. like in theform of a displaceable sleeve for movement along the. shank of the fastener so that the tubular element can be removed from the region of the. blade of the. screwdriver when it is not needed and alternatively, moved into that region where it is desired to hold a fastener for positioning and insertion.

Other features of this. invention reside in providing the sleeve element with projections for registration with openings in the tubular element to control the position of the. tubular element inconjunction with the springelement so that the tubular element may be automatically positioned' for insertion with the blade element of the screwdriver of the projections in the slotted opening: of afastener and by slight manipulation be automatically movedto a position to engage the fastener to hold same for positioning and insertion.

These and other objects and features are to be found in the following specification to be read in conjunction with the sheet of drawings in which:

FIGURE 1 is a perspective View of a screwdriver employing one embodiment of the screw-holding device or holder constructed in accordance with the invention with the holder located in the inoperative position leaving the blade of the screwdriver free for driving;

FIGURE 2 is an enlarged perspective view of thescrewdriver and holder of FIGURE 1 with the holder moved into the operative position surrounding the blade of the driver and with a portion of the holder broken away;

FIGURES 3 and 4 are both perspective views of the holder of FIGURES 1 and 2 partly broken away and illustrating in sequence, respectively, the application of the driver in broken outline and the holder to the slotted head of a screw or the like;

FIGURE 5 is an enlarged perspective view of a different embodiment of a holder shown surrounding the lade portion of a screwdriver and in position to engage the kerf or slot of a fastener;

FIGURE 6 is an enlarged perspective view of the em-- bodirnent illustrated in FIGURE 5 shown with the holder and driver applied to the slotted head of the fastener whereas FIGURE 7 is a vertical midsectional view taken along the lines 7-7 of FIGURE 6.

With reference to the sheet of drawings, one embodiment of the fastener holder is designated at A in FIG- URES 1 through 4 and in another embodiment is designated at B in FIGURES 5 to 7.

In FIGURE 1 a screwdriver 10 having a handle 11 shank 12 which terminates in blade portion 13 is provided with a holder A slidably mounted on the shank 12 such that it can be moved when not required from the operative position illustrated in FIGURE 2 to the position iflustrated in FIGURE 1..

It is to be noted that the shank 12 has a polygonal cross-- sectional configuration, in this embodiment a square crosssection, as indicated at 14 in FIGURES 3 and 4.

Sleeved onto shank 12 is a sleeve element 14a of. sheet. metal or other suitable material. Sleeve element 14a has a square configuration in cross-section corresponding to that of shank 12 and is free to slide therealong but it is to be appreciated that the movement is axially solely, the. corresponding polygonal surfaces of the sleeve and shank serving as a guide for the axial movement.

A tubular fastener engaging element 15 is sleeved over the shank 12 and has an internal bore diameter of the order of the transverse dimension of the blade portion 13, tubular element 15- being of rigid construction, for example, a length of steel tubing, and being provided with diametrically opposed axially extending projections 16 at the open end thereof surrounding the blade portion 13'.

Connected between the sleeve 14 and tubular element 15 is a helical spring element 17, the coils of the spring element 1'7 at each end being secured as by welding or in any other suitable manner, the attachment being such. that in the untensioned or relaxed position of spring element 17 projections 16 are ang-ularly offset in relation to the transverse direction of the blade portion 13 so that.

the spring 17 on alignment of the projection 16 with the transverse direction of the blade portion 13, as best seen in. FIGURE 4, will be tensioned and irnpart a twisting action to the tubular element 15 resulting in. the. application of an equal and opposite torque to the blade 13 in the slot of the head of the fastener.

With reference to FIGURES 3 and 4, it will be explained how this structure coupled with the spring action is utilized to provide a positive locking action.

In FIGURE 3 projections 16 of tubular element are inserted in the =kerf or slot 18 of the head portion 19 of a fastener 20. Upon the shank 12 being turned by the handle 11 to place the blade portion 13 in alignment with the kerf or slot 18 and the movement of the blade 13 into the kerf 18 the spring 17 is wound up or tensioned as indicated by the direction of the arrow in FIG- URE 3 and with the blade 13 in full registration with the kerf 18 as illustrated in FIGURE 4, it will be readily appreciated that the tubular element 15 at all times will be urged to return to the position shown in FIGURE 2. In the fully engaged position the blade 13 will be canted and engage opposing surfaces of the kerf or slot 18.

It is to be appreciated that the width of the projections 16 is of the order of the thickness of the blade portion 13, for insertion within the slot 18, and that the axial extent of the projections is of the order of the depth of the slots 18 to be encountered in the use of the tool.

Alternatively, the blade portion 13 can be inserted in the slot of the head of a fastener and the tubular element 15 twisted and the projections 16 inserted.

The manner of use of the embodiment indicated at A will be determined by the facility developed in registering both the blade and the projections whether one would first insert the blade 13 in the projections 16.

In the embodiment B illustrated in FIGURES 5, 6 and 7, it is to be observed that essentially the components of the device are the same. It is seen in FIGURE 5 that the holder B is mounted upon the shank of the screwdriver having a blade portion 31, the holder comprising a sleeve element 32 mounted to slide therealong, a tubular element 33 corresponding to the tubular element 15 of FIGURES 1 through 4 and a helical spring element 34 connected between the sleeve 32 and tubular element 33.

Sleeve 32 is provided with a Washer 35 at one end slotted as at 36 and fixed to the sleeve 32 against rotation by an upstanding lug 37 and spot welding or other suitable means.

The helical spring element 34 is secured at one end in the slot 36 as best seen in FIGURE 5 and bears against the washer 35.

At the other end of sleeve 32 the end 38- of spring 34 abuts against a shoulder 39 in the next adjacent end 40 of the tubular element 33. Also it is to be observed that the next adjacent coil 41 of spring 34 abuts against the aforementioned end 40 of the element 33 urging it axially as well as imparting to it a turning movement.

Tubular element 33 is provided with diametrically opposed projections 42 at the forward open end 43. Rearwardly tubular element 33 is provided With an opening 44 therethrough of a generally L-shape, the opening receiving an upstanding log 45- secured to the sleeve 32. The axially extending portion 44a of the opening 44 serves to position tubular element 33 with the projections 42 aligned with the transverse direction of the blade element 31, the transversely extending portion 44b serving as a bearing and locating notch when the element 33 is freed so that the spring 34 can urge it in a direction to place the projections 42 in offset angular relation to the blade 31 which is the same attitude as illustrated in FIGURE 2 with embodiment A.

The aligned position is illustrated by FIGURE 5.

The position of locking engagement with a fastener 46 is indicated in FIGURE 6 with the lug 45 registered in transverse portion 44b.

In FIGURE 7 the cross-section illustrates the structure of the holder B in detail showing the relative positions of the components and their relationship to a fastener held in position at the top.

It is to be readily appreciated that the holder B can be moved along the shank 30 of the screwdriver and 4 that when it is to be used it is placed in the position illustrated in FIGURE 5 with the lug 45 of sleeve 32 located in the axially extending portion 44a of the slot or opening 44. With this arrangement it is seen that projections and the blade are automatically in position to enter the kerf or slot 47 of the head of the fastener 46.

When the insertion in the slot 47, has been accomplished then upon the manipulation of the tubular element 33 to compress the spring 34 the lug 45 is displaced axially and relocated in the transversely extending portion 44b of the slot 44 which registering action is completed by the stored energy in the spring 34.

The equal and opposite torque applied by the action of the spring 34 causes the blade 31 to tilt in the slot 47 of the fastener 46 and engage the opposed walls of slot 46 which effectively holds the fastener on the end for the purposes aforementioned.

It is to be readily appreciated that once the driving has begun it may not be necessary to disengage the holder from its position at the end of the screwdriver in that the blade of the driver can be used to apply a full thrust to the fastener.

If it is desired, the holder B is readily displaceable rearwardly so that it is free and clear of the work.

It will be appreciated that the preferred embodiments of the invention have been described and illustrated whereas persons skilled in the art may make variations and modifications without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention as defined in the appended claims.

What I claim is:

=1. A device for the holding and driving of a fastener having a head portion with a slot therein, comprising an elongated polygonal shank terminating at one end in a blade portion, and having a handle at the other end, said blade portion being adapted for insertion into the said slot, tubular means sleeved onto said shank and having an open end surrounding said blade portion and presenting a pair of rigid diametrically opposed axially extending projections, said projections having a thickness corresponding to the thickness of said blade portion, said tubular means being shiftable from a first position wherein said projections are angularly offset in relation to said blade portion to a second position wherein said projections are aligned with said blade portion and with the tips thereof registering with the leading edge of said blade portion, a sleeve element slidable along said shank, said sleeve element having an internal configuration cooperable with said shank to prevent relative rotation therebetween, resilient yieldable means carried by and slidable along said shank and operably connected to said tubular means and said sleeve element to normally urge said tubular means to the first position wherein said projections are angularly offset from said blade element, and whereby a torque substantially equal and opposite to the torque exerted by said projections on the slot of said fastener, when in said first position is transmitted to said sleeve to hold it in a substantially constant relationship with said shank.

2. A device according to claim 1 in which means are provided for selectively fixing said tubular means in said first position and said second position respectively.

3. A device according to claim 2 wherein said sleeve element is provided with a bearing surface formation at the end thereof remote from said tubular means and is provided with upstanding projection means at the end thereof adjacent to said tubular means, said tubular means having aligning slot means therein registering with said projection means said aligning slot means including an axially extending portion and a part circumferentially extending portion, said slot means defining in conjunction with said projection means said means for selectively fixing said tubular means in said first position and said second position, and with said resilient yieldable means bearing between said bearing surface formation of said References Cites in the file of this patent sleeve element and being operatively connected to said UNITED STATES PATENTS tubular means in a manner to normally urge said tubular 1,791,771 velepec {Feb 10 1931 means both axially and angularly of said sleeve element. 2,150,134 Pearson Mam 14 1939 4. A device according i0 claim 3 in which said re- 5 2 20 3 4 Petre J l 2 1940 silient yie'ldable means comprises a helical spring ele- FOREIGN PATENTS 6 t. m n 258,929 Switzerland Oct. 1, 1949 

1. A DEVICE FOR THE HOLDING AND DRIVING OF A FASTENER HAVING A HEAD PORTION WITH A SLOT THEREIN, COMPRISING AN ELONGATED POLYGONAL SHANK TERMINATING AT ONE END IN A BLADE PORTION, AND HAVING A HANDLE AT THE OTHER END, SAID BLADE PORTION BEING ADAPTED FOR INSERTION INTO THE SAID SLOT, TUBULAR MEANS SLEEVED ONTO SAID SHANK AND HAVING AN OPEN END SURROUNDING SAID BLADE PORTION AND PRESENTING A PAIR OF RIGID DIAMETRICALLY OPPOSED AXIALLY EXTENDING PROJECTIONS, SAID PROJECTIONS HAVING A THICKNESS CORRESPONDING TO THE THICKNESS OF SAID BLADE PORTION, SAID TUBULAR MEANS BEING SHIFTABLE FROM A FIRST POSITION WHEREIN SAID PROJECTIONS ARE ANGULARLY OFFSET IN RELATION TO SAID BLADE PORTION TO A SECOND POSITION WHEREIN SAID PROJECTIONS ARE ALIGNED WITH SAID BLADE PORTION AND WITH THE TIPS THEREOF REGISTERING WITH THE LEADING EDGE OF SAID BLADE PORTION, A SLEEVE ELEMENT SLIDABLE ALONG SAID SHANK, SAID SLEEVE ELEMENT HAVING AN INTERNAL CONFIGURATION COOPERABLE WITH SAID SHANK TO PREVENT RELATIVE ROTATION THEREBETWEEN, RESILIENT YIELDABLE MEANS CARRIED BY AND SLIDABLE ALONG SAID SHANK AND OPERABLY CONNECTED TO SAID TUBULAR MEANS AND SAID SLEEVE ELEMENT TO NORMALLY URGE SAID TUBULAR MEANS TO THE FIRST POSITION WHEREIN SAID PROJECTIONS ARE ANGULARLY OFFSET FROM SAID BLADE ELEMENT, AND WHEREBY A TORQUE SUBSTANTIALLY EQUAL AND OPPOSITE TO THE TORQUE EXERTED BY SAID PROJECTIONS ON THE SLOT OF SAID FASTENER, WHEN IN SAID FIRST POSITION IS TRANSMITTED TO SAID SLEEVE TO HOLD IT IN A SUBSTANTIALLY CONSTANT RELATIONSHIP WITH SAID SHANK. 